Dinitroglycoluril

Dinitroglycoluril (DNGU) is a high explosive^[1] chemical compound with the formula C₄H₄N₆O₆. Dinitroglycoluril is of growing interest due to its stability, ability to mix with oxygen positive explosives to form composites, and it is a precursor to tetranitroglycoluril.^[2]

Dinitroglycoluril

Names
IUPAC name 3,6-dinitro-1,3a,4,6a-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d]imidazole-2,5-dione
Other names DNGU 1,4-dinitroglycoluril
Identifiers
CAS Number	55510-04-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	55937
ECHA InfoCard	100.054.239
EC Number	259-683-0
MeSH	1,4-dinitroglycoluril
PubChem CID	62101
UN number	0489
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID70970862
InChI InChI=1S/C4H4N6O6/c11-3-5-1-2(8(3)10(15)16)6-4(12)7(1)9(13)14/h1-2H,(H,5,11)(H,6,12) Key: YZTLXSKKFIMAKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES C12C(NC(=O)N1[N+](=O)[O-])N(C(=O)N2)[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	C4H4N6O6
Molar mass	232.112 g·mol−1
Density	1.94 g/cm3[1]
Boiling point	252.87 °C (explosive decomposition)
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (S⦵298)	128.4 J/(mol·K)[1]
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−74 kcal/mol[2]
Explosive data
Detonation velocity	8450 m/s[1]
Related compounds
Related compounds	Glycoluril
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation and decomposition

Dinitroglycoluril can be created by nitrating glycoluril with concentrated nitric acid.^[3]

C₄H₆N₄O₂ + 2 HNO₃ → C₄H₄N₆O₆ + 2 H₂O

The activation energy required to begin decomposition of dinitroglycoluril is 165 kJ/mol.^[2] When dinitroglycoluril is heated to 243 °C in an inert atmosphere, the two nitrate groups break off and the two central carbon atoms form a double bond.^[1]

Sensitivity

The impact sensitivity of dinitroglycoluril was determined using the Bruceton-staircase procedure, which found a h₅₀ of 88 cm. Friction sensitivity was determined by a Julius-Peters apparatus, which found a sensitivity of 25 kg.^[2]